Toowoomba Remediation
ENERGEX is currently remediating the former Toowoomba Gasworks in Neil Street, Toowoomba.
The site, which was used to produce gas from coal for nearly 100 years, has been impacted as a result of industrial waste disposal practices stretching back to the 19th Century.
Work involves removing soil and structures impacted by contaminants from the site allowing for better alternative uses of the area in the future.
Remediation work is set to commence mid 2012 and, weather and other outside factors permitting, is expected to be completed by late 2013.
The remediation process
Preliminary site drilling and testing carried out in 2011 has found impacted soil consistent with former gas manufacturing sites.
This impacted soil and structures will be removed and transported by truck to a registered landfill facility at Swanbank near Ipswich.
During excavation relevant components of the site will be covered by a specially developed structure designed to minimise dust and odours that may arise as part of the civil works.
All remediation processes will be in accordance with strict Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) guidelines and will be managed by ENERGEX-appointed project management organisation Ranbury Management Group.
ENERGEX has also engaged the services of an environmental engineering organisation to monitor all onsite processes in addition to an independent third party reviewer who will review all site remediation milestones.
When required, traffic management officers and barricade systems will be in place to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians travelling on thoroughfares surrounding the site.
Below is a photo of a similar project completed by ENERGEX and its partners in West End Brisbane between 2006 and 2008. The building shown covers the impacted and odorous portion of the site.
The site’s background
The former Toowoomba Gasworks commenced manufacturing gas for the city’s residential and commercial use in 1867.
The manufacturing process consisted of retorting (or “cooking”) coal in large brick ovens producing a flammable gas which was then stored in large gas silos onsite.
The gas was then pressurised and distributed to the Toowoomba City area via a comprehensive pipeline network.
While this gas manufacturing process was affective, it also created by-products which were buried on site – a practice that would not be acceptable by today’s standards.
During the 20th century the exploration and cost-effective transport of natural gas rendered the retorting process labour-intensive, expensive and obsolete.
As a result, the Toowoomba Gasworks ceased manufacturing gas and became a junction and pressurising centre for the city’s natural gas pipeline network operated by Allgas. There was also an Allgas appliance sales showroom on site for many years.
In 1998 Allgas was purchased by South East Queensland electricity distributor ENERGEX and the Toowoomba Gasworks site made up part of this commercial acquisition.
The site’s buildings
Because the gas manufacturing by-products were distributed and/or buried on site for nearly a century, the foundations of existing buildings and the oven chimney have been either partially or completely impacted.
ENERGEX investigated options to retain some of the existing structures however scientific testing found all to be contaminated and therefore, for environmental reasons, must be demolished.
After remediation
ENERGEX is aiming to have the site fully remediated by December 2013.
Once completed and signed off by DERM the site will be suitable for a higher form of redevelopment.
Documents
Below is a list of documents distributed throughout the remediation project.
Contact
For more information about the project:
Phone: 0408 724 173
Email: toowoombasite@energex.com.au
Write to: Toowoomba Gasworks Remediation
C/- ENERGEX Property Services
Reply Paid 1461
Brisbane QLD 4001
You require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print documents.